Page 64 of Kiss of Fire

“Try to create a ball,” Tor suggested. “Apparently your ma was deadly with the fireballs.”

She put her palms together, imagining a fireball shaping between them. But when she pulled her hands apart, there was just the tiniest dot hanging in mid air. It span like an orange marble.

“Well,that’scompletely unterrifying,” she said, disappointed.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you size isn’t everything?”

“Only really short people.”

“It’s what you do with it that counts.”

“Yes, maybe I can singe someone’s ear.”

“Just throw it at something. Maybe it’s more powerful than it looks.”

“Throw it? How do I do that?”

Tor frowned doubtfully.

“I’m not sure. The Vulcani sort of flick their hands, but I think it’s more mental than physical.”

“Ooooookay...”

She looked for a suitable target. There were some finished shields hanging on the wall, ready to be collected. She looked at her pathetic little spot of fire, still spinning between her hands, and thought about where she wanted it to go. Then she flicked it towards the shields.

They both watched as it wobbled uncertainly across the intervening space, splatted against a shield, gave a low hiss and vanished.

The shield didn’t have a mark on it.

“At least you managed to direct it properly,” Tor said brightly.

“Yes. Maybe I could get a job as a hands-free candle lighter.”

Her earlier excitement at finally finding her power was quickly fading. The Vulcani would never accept her as their leader. She may as well wave a torch around at them. Angrily, she shook her hands and the flames went out.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Tor said soothingly. “You just need practice. You’ve got a week.”

“Six days.”

“You’ve proven you’re Vulcani. That’s the main thing.”

“But they’ll only accept me as leader if I’m as powerful as Aelah.”

“You think Aelah could shoot fireballs overnight? She had to learn how to shape her power, same as you do.”

“I guess.” She glanced at Tor from under her lashes. “Thank you, by the way. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“No thanks necessary. It was my pleasure. Though I’m glad I kept my eyebrows.” He waggled them at her comically and she couldn’t help laughing. On impulse, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

He turned bright red and she immediately regretted her action. Flustered, she strove for a nonchalant tone.

“Just my way of saying thank you,” she said airily.

“That’s how they say ‘thank you’ in the human world?”

“Only to the best people. I hope I didn’t offend you.”

“No, it was just… unexpected. Um…” He broke off and strode towards the door. “I have to go. Things to do.”

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